The latest report published by the Atlantic Council, one of Washington’s most influential think tanks, offered striking assessments regarding the future of Türkiye-U.S. relations and Türkiye’s rising role in the defense industry. One of the most notable points in the report was the strong and clear message delivered by U.S. Congressman James Walkinshaw in support of Türkiye. Walkinshaw emphasized that maintaining diplomatic relations with Türkiye at the highest level is a strategic necessity, adding that he would continue to support the vision of a strong, stable, and democratic Türkiye throughout his term. His remarks are significant because they show that the positive approach toward Türkiye in Washington extends beyond security concerns and also includes political and economic dimensions.

The report also underlined that Türkiye is not only a regional military power but also a key diplomatic balancing actor. In particular, Ankara’s mediation role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its support for ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas were highlighted as clear examples of its effectiveness in crisis diplomacy. Walkinshaw stated that bilateral relations should not remain limited to defense cooperation alone, stressing that people-to-people ties, parliamentary exchange programs, and deeper commercial cooperation could further strengthen the relationship. This perspective indicates that Türkiye-U.S. relations may be placed on a broader and more sustainable long-term foundation.

In the defense section of the report, special attention was given to Türkiye’s multi-layered air defense concept, the Steel Dome project. The analysis stated that European countries are facing serious logistical and cost-related difficulties in the field of air defense, while Türkiye’s domestically developed and integrated system architecture was presented as the only real model. In particular, the report criticized the heavy reliance of U.S.-made Patriot and Franco-Italian SAMP/T systems on highly expensive interceptor missiles. Against this backdrop, Türkiye was praised for pursuing a more scalable, integrated, and mass-producible defense model. This assessment demonstrates that the Turkish defense industry has reached a level where it not only addresses regional needs but also contributes to broader global debates on defense architecture.

The Atlantic Council report further emphasized that Steel Dome represents a critical threshold in Ankara’s pursuit of strategic autonomy in defense production. It noted that Türkiye no longer views air defense as a collection of standalone systems, but rather as a fully integrated national defense architecture. This approach offers a model that can respond faster to threats, ensure sustainability through production capacity, and reduce foreign dependency. Taken as a whole, the report suggests that Türkiye’s growing influence in both diplomacy and defense is becoming increasingly visible in Washington’s strategic circles. When James Walkinshaw’s supportive statements are considered alongside the praise for Steel Dome, it becomes clear that Türkiye is emerging not only as a regional partner but also as a strategic actor that must be taken seriously within the broader Western security architecture.